Restraint System with Dual Release Mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a restraint system for a vehicle. A crewmember or occupant is interconnected to the restraint system by way of a strap. The strap has two separate and independently operable release mechanisms. The strap permits the occupant to be either manually or automatically released from the associated restraint. The restraint can be mounted within any of a variety of land, sea, air, or space based vehicles. In one non-limiting embodiment, the first release mechanism is automatically activated in response to a triggering event and the second release mechanism is manually activated by the occupant pulling on a lanyard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of ApplicationSer. No. 61/505,817 entitled “Crewmember Strap with Dual ReleaseMechanisms” filed on Jul. 8, 2011. The contents of this co-pendingapplication are fully incorporated herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a restraint system. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a restraint system having two independentrelease mechanisms

2. Description of the Background Art

Restraint systems are known in the art. Restraint systems, such asconventional seat belts, include a length of webbing that secure anoccupant within a vehicle. Other restraint systems include a occupantworn vest or harness that releasably attaches to the webbing. The lengthof webbing, in turn, can be secured to either a fixed anchor pointwithin the vehicle or to an inertial reel. Such restraint systems can beused in a wide variety of vehicles, such as land, sea, or spaced basedvehicles.

If a reel is employed, it can be positioned above (or to the side of)the user so that the webbing can be dispensed to facilitate occupantmovement within the vehicle. An accelerometer within the reel can lockthe webbing to secure the occupant in the event of sudden or severemovements, accidents, crashes, or rapid acceleration or deceleration, orany other event that would warrant the occupant being immediatelyrestrained (i.e. a “triggering event”). By locking the reel in responseto a triggering event, the occupant is protected again injury and/orbeing ejected from the vehicle.

An example of an overhead restraint system is described in commonlyowned U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,710 to Van Druff et al. Van Druff discloses anaircrew restraint system that includes a track and a trolley that runsalong the track. The trolley includes an interlock pin that cooperateswith interlock hooks spaced within the track. A webbing strap connectsan aircrew harness to a strap retractor. In order for the occupant torelease the trolley, they must grasp an overhead handle.

Regardless of the type of restraint system employed, whether an overheadrestraint, fixed anchor point, or otherwise, a mechanism is needed forquickly and easily uncoupling the occupant. Although it is important toadequately restrain an occupant during a triggering event, it issimilarly important to allow the occupant to be released upon theconclusion of the triggering event. Uncoupling an occupant from therestraint may be especially important in the event of a crash or waterlanding. These emergency situations require the restrained individual toimmediately separate himself or herself from the restraint system toprevent serious bodily injury or death. This task is complicated by thefact that the webbing may be secured to the back of the occupant via aharness. The occupant may also have been incapacitated as a result ofthe triggering event, thereby making it impossible for the occupant torelease himself or herself. The restraint system of the presentdisclosure is aimed at overcoming these and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed restraint system presents several important advantagesover prior systems. One possible advantage is attained by providing twoseparate and independent mechanisms for releasing an occupant from anassociated restraint system.

A further possible advantage is achieved by allowing a restrainedoccupant to be quickly and easily released following a triggering event.

Another possible advantage is realized by providing a means for allowingan occupant to selectively free themselves from an associated restraintwhen needed in either emergency or non-emergency situations.

Still yet another advantage is attained by providing a means forautomatically releasing an occupant from a restraint in the presence ofwater.

A further advantage is recognized by incorporating both a manual releasemechanism and an automatic release mechanism in a single occupantrestraint.

Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all ofthese advantages. Other technical advantages of the present inventionwill be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of theinvention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrativeof some of the more prominent features and applications of the intendedinvention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying thedisclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the inventionwithin the scope of the disclosure.

PARTS LIST 20 System 22 Strap 24 First End of Strap 26 Second End ofStrap 28 Release System 32 Housing of Release System 34 D-Ring ofRelease System 34a Apertures in D-Ring 36 Locking Pins of Release System38 Strap Mounting on Release System 42 Hook 44 Base of Hook 46 Triggerfor Hook 48 Pivotal Extent of Hook 52 Cable for Trigger 54 Lanyard forTrigger 56 Plunger of Spinnaker-type Hook 58 Crew Member Vest 60Attachment Points on Vest 62 Tether for Overhead Reel

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the restraint system of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view of the restraint system being used to secure anoccupant to a fixed anchor point within a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the hook employed by the system of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the water activated release mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the system used in connection with anoverhead reel.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a restraint system for a vehicle. Acrewmember or occupant is interconnected to the restraint system by wayof a strap. The strap has two separate and independently operablerelease mechanisms. The strap permits the occupant to be either manuallyor automatically released from the associated restraint. The restraintcan be mounted within any of a variety of land, sea, air, or space basedvehicles. In one non-limiting embodiment, the first release mechanism isautomatically activated in response to a triggering event and the secondrelease mechanism is manually activated by the occupant pulling on alanyard.

With reference to FIG. 1, the system 20 of the present disclosure isillustrated. System 20 comprises a strap 22 with first and second ends(24 and 26). Strap 22 can take the form of a length of webbing. In onenon-limiting example, the webbing is formed from nylon and isapproximately 12 inches long. However, other lengths and materials canalso be used for strap 22. Loops can be formed at either end of strap 22to permit it to be coupled to first and second release mechanisms. Thefirst and second release mechanisms, in turn, are coupled to first andsecond components of the restraint system. In the depicted embodiment,the first release mechanism 28 is an automatic release that is coupledto an occupant worn vest 58; the second release mechanism 42 is a manualrelease that is coupled to an overhead reel. However, the positions ofthe first and second release mechanisms in relation to the first andsecond components of the restraint system can be reversed as needed.

As noted in FIGS. 1 and 5, a first automatic release system 28 isconnected to the first end 24 of strap 22. Release system 28 functionsin separating strap 22 from an occupant worn vest 58 in response to atriggering event. In one embodiment, the release system 28 is a wateractivated release system, or “WARS,” with the triggering event being thepresence of water. Any of a variety of known water activated releasemechanisms can be used for WARS 28. System 20 can also be used inconnection with other types of release mechanisms.

In one embodiment, release system 28 is the water activated releasetriggering mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,611 to Van Druffet. al. The '611 patent and the present application are commonly owned.The specification of the '611 patent is incorporated herein for allpurposes. Release system 28 includes an internal circuit with both anactivated and a deactivated state. The activated state is achieved whenthe circuit is immersed in water. As long as the circuit remains dry andnot immersed in water, it is maintained in the deactivated state andstrap 22 remains coupled to the restraint system.

Release system 28 includes a housing 32 that is releasably connected toa D-Ring 34. Release system 28 further includes a mounting bar 38 thatextends between two upstanding arms. Mounting bar 28 is positionedwithin a loop formed at the first end 24 of strap 22. D-ring 34, inturn, is used in securing release system 28 to the occupant. Forexample, D-ring 34 can be secured to either the front side or the backside of an occupant worn vest (note FIGS. 2 and 5). D-Ring 34 includes apair of apertures 34 a for receiving a pair of oppositely disposedlocking pins 36 from release system 28 (note FIG. 1). Locking pins 36have both an extended and a retracted orientation. Locking pins 36 arekept in locking engagement with the pins 36 being secured withinopenings 34 a of D-Ring 34. As such, in the normal orientation, D-ring34 is lockingly coupled to housing 32. However, if release system 28 isimmersed in water, such as may occur in the event of a crash landing, acircuit is completed to fire a solenoid within housing 32. This actionpermits locking pins 36 to be retracted, thereby permitting D-ring 34 tobe separated from housing 32. This also frees the occupant from theremainder of the restraint system.

It is within the scope of the present disclosure to utilize other typesof release systems 28 that are responsive to other types of triggeringevents. For instance, system 28 may include a sensor that is responsiveto extreme heat to release the occupant in response to a fire. Releasesystem 28 may also be triggered in response to controls that areoperable by other occupants of the vehicle.

A hook 42, which may be a spinnaker-type hook, is secured to the secondend 26 of strap 22. Hook 42 includes a base potion 44 with a loop thatis adapted to be permanently secured to second end 26 of strap 22. Hook42 further includes a trigger 46 that permits a pivotal extent 48 to bereleased and opened. Pivotal extent 48, in the depicted embodiment,takes the form of a J-shaped hook. A cable 52 and a lanyard 54 arecoupled to trigger 46 to allow manual actuation. More specifically, ascable 52 and lanyard 54 are pulled, trigger 46 is activated. Thisretracts a spring biased plunger 56 from an opening in pivotal extent48. This, in turn, allows pivotal extent 48 to pivot open.

With reference to FIG. 5, strap 22 may be fitted between a crewmembervest 58 and the tether 62 of an overhead restraint. Vest 58 may includetwo attachment points 60 for securing vest 58 to D-Ring 34. Tether 62may include a D-ring for attachment to hook 42. For example, strap 22can be used in connection with the crew member restraint systemdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,710 to Van Druff et al. The '710 patentand the present application are commonly owned. The '710 patent is fullyincorporated herein for all purposes. In the embodiment depicted, strap22 is substantially shorter than tether 62. Strap 22 may beapproximately 12 inches long. The length of strap 22 is preferably suchthat its extends between the base of the neck and the back of theoccupant's head. Lanyard 54 may be omitted in this embodiment. Instead,cable 52 can be routed through an opening in vest 58, over theoccupant's shoulder, and to a mounting point on the front of vest 58.This would allow occupant to easily pull cable 52 and separate himselffrom the restraint system as needed.

As noted in FIG. 2, strap 22 can also be used with a non-retractablewebbing and attached to a fixed anchor point in the vehicle, such as onthe vehicle frame, or upon a seat. In such an embodiment, strap 22generally has a longer length. Hook 42 can secure the free end of thenon-retractable webbing 22 to the anchor point. D-ring 34, in turn,would be secured to the crewmember vest.

In either embodiment, once the occupant is properly secured, in theevent the vehicle becomes submerged, release system 28 is activated torelease D-ring 34. Once D-Ring 34 is uncoupled, the crewmember isreleased from the restraint system and is free to exit the vehicle. Inthe alternative, the crewmember is free to grasp lanyard 54 or cable 52to open hook 42 and thereby free himself or herself from the restraintsystem. Again, the crew member is then free to exit the vehicle.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims,as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this inventionhas been described in its preferred form with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of thepreferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerouschanges in the details of construction and the combination andarrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A crewmember restraint system (20) for use in securing an occupantwithin a vehicle, the system (20) allowing the occupant to becomeunrestrained in response to a triggering event, the system (20)comprising: a strap (22) having a first end (24), a second end (26), andan intermediate extent therebetween; a water activated release mechanism(28) coupled to the first end (24) of the strap (22), the releasemechanism (28) having an internal circuit with activated and deactivatedstates, the activated state occurring when the mechanism (28) isimmersed in water, the deactivated state occurring when the mechanism(28) is not immersed in water, a pair of oppositely disposed cylindricallocking pins (36), the locking pins (36) having extended and retractedorientations, the locking pins (36) being brought into the retractedorientation when the circuit is in the activated state, the locking pins(36) being in the extended orientation when the circuit is in thedeactivated state; a D-ring (34) with two opposing openings, the lockingpins (36) being positioned within the opposing openings when in theextended orientation to thereby couple the D-ring (34) to the mechanism(28), the locking pins (36) being removed from the opposing openingswhen in the retracted orientation to thereby uncouple the D-ring (34)from the mechanism (28); a hook (42) having a lower base (44) and anupper pivotal extent (48), the upper pivotal extent (48) having anopening at a distal end, a spring biased plunger (56) being receivedwithin an intermediate housing of the hook (42), the plunger (56) havingan unbiased state wherein the plunger (56) extends from the intermediatehousing, a trigger (46) and cable (52) for use in retracting the plunger(56) into the intermediate housing, the plunger (56) adapted to bepositioned within the opening when in the unbiased state to therebysecure the hook (42) in a closed orientation, the cable (52) and trigger(46) functioning to retract plunger (56) from the opening and therebyrelease the upper pivotal extent (48) and open the hook (42), the base(44) of hook (42) being coupled to the second end (26) of strap (22); anoccupant worn vest (58), the vest being secured to the D-ring (34) byway of two attachment points, a tether associated with an overhead reel,the tether including a lower end that is coupled to the hook.
 2. Acrewmember restraint system (20) comprising: a strap (22) having a firstend (24), a second end (26), and an intermediate extent therebetween; arelease mechanism (28) coupled to the first end (24) of the strap (22),the release mechanism (28) having a circuit with an activated state, apair of locking pins (36) having extended and retracted orientations,the locking pins (36) being brought into the retracted orientation whenthe circuit is in the activated state; a ring (34) with two opposingopenings, the locking pins (36) being positioned within the opposingopenings when in the extended orientation to thereby couple the ring(34) to the release mechanism (28), the locking pins (36) being removedfrom the opposing openings when in the retracted orientation to therebyuncouple the ring (34) from the mechanism (28); a hook (42) having alower base (44) and an upper pivotal extent (48), the upper pivotalextent (48) having an aperture at a distal end, a plunger (56) having anunbiased state wherein the plunger (56) extends into the aperture, atrigger (46) for use in retracting the plunger (56) and thereby releasethe upper pivotal extent (48) and open the hook (42), the base (44) ofhook (42) being coupled to the second end (26) of strap (22).
 3. Thesystem as described in claim 2 further comprising an occupant worn vest(58) with two attachment points, the vest being connected to ring (34)by way of the two attachment points.
 4. The system as described in claim2 further comprising an overhead reel and an associated tether, thetether including a lower end that is coupled to the hook, whereby theoccupant can be released from the overhead reel by pulling on cable (52)and trigger (46).
 5. The system as described in claim 4 wherein thetether is substantially longer than strap.
 6. The system as described inclaim 4 wherein strap (22) is separated from the overhead reel iftrigger (46) is pulled while tether (62) is under tension.
 7. The systemas described in claim 4 wherein strap (22) is separated from overheadreel if trigger (46) is pulled while tether (62) is supporting theweight of the crewmember.
 8. The system as described in claim 2 whereinthe activated state occurs when the circuit is immersed in water.
 9. Thesystem as described in claim 2 wherein a lanyard (54) is coupled totrigger (46), the crewmember using the lanyard (54) to pull trigger (46)and release hook (42).
 10. The system as described in claim 2 whereinthe strap is approximately 12 inches long.
 11. The system as describedin claim 2 wherein the upper pivotal extent (48) of hook (42) isJ-shaped.
 12. A tether for use in securing an occupant within arestraint system, the restraint system having first and secondcomponents, the tether comprising: a length of webbing having first andsecond ends; an automatic release mechanism coupling the first end ofthe webbing to the first component of the restraint system, theautomatic release mechanism separating the first end of the webbing fromthe first component of the restraint system in response to a triggeringevent; a manual release mechanism coupling the second end of the webbingto the second component of the restraint system, the manual releasemechanism including a trigger for allowing the occupant to selectivelyseparate the second end of the webbing from the second component of therestraint system.
 13. The tether as described in claim 12 wherein thefirst component of the restraint system is an occupant worn vest. 14.The tether as described in claim 12 wherein the second component of therestraint system is an overhead reel.
 15. The tether as described inclaim 12 wherein the first end of the webbing is positioned proximate tothe base of the occupant's neck and the second end of the webbing ispositioned proximate to the back of the occupant's head.